Certainly, the numbers would have been better on broadcast television. Still, a 4.8 overnight cable rating for Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals on TNT last night is nothing to be ashamed of. The double-overtime game, which saw Cleveland defeat Detroit 109-107, is on pace to potentially be the highest rated of the playoffs (currently, the highest rated game is Spurs/Suns Game 1, which drew a 3.5 rating on ABC). The performance of LeBron James, who scored 48 points, including 29 of the Cavaliers final 30, could bode well for the ratings of Game 6 on Saturday night.
Considering that the first three games of the Cavs/Pistons series drew national ratings of 2.7, 2.9 and 2.9 (well off from last year), only a Game 7 would help the numbers surpass the average for last year’s Conference Finals. Still, for at least two nights, the NBA can hope to see stellar numbers.
In other news, TNT won the month of May on the strength of the NBA Playoffs — even though ratings fell almost across the board. One of the reasons the NBA television contract is so valuable for cable, is that even in a down year the NBA Playoffs can help a network dominate. The NBA Playoffs and WWE Wrestling on USA virtually swept the top 20 programs on cable for the month.
